Aquarium of NC on Roanoke Island

 We spent the afternoon at the aquarium.  It was small but everything was nice and they had lots of great programs and activities.  When we first walked in they had gloves for the kids to decorate as starfish.

 The first thing we did was go to the "graveyard" to watch the sharks and hear a diver talk.  They had some really big sharks and it was fun to watch them.  The diver had a rescue diver with him with a stick to keep away the sharks.  Fun to watch.

 We also got to watch the alligators get fed, watch a movie about octopi and touch rays and other sea creatures.

 It was a highlight of our week.

In the evening we bought pizza for the kids and then left the girls in charge while we went out to an adult dinner.  Capt George's all you can eat seafood buffet!  Yumm!!!

beach time

 We got to spend some time in at the beach this morning.  Last night there was quite a storm and this morning the waves were rough.  I didn't want the kids going out because they were getting pummelled. 

 We mainly played in the sand.  We were sitting on the edge of the water and digging and twice a huge wave came up and almost took the babies out to sea.  Poor Reggie got somersaulted and was saved by Yoho.  I caught Tate when she was swept away.  The ocean was reminding us who is bigger and stronger today.

 Still we had a great time.  The kids were so cute together and it was so nice to be together on the beach. Love it!

Surprise visitors

 Reggie and Yoho and Andrea were supposed to come stay a couple days, then they couldn't :(

Yesterday they surprised us with a phone call saying they could make it for one night!! Yeah!! It was so fun to have them even if it was too short.

Wright Brothers

obx

 We had a little rain this afternoon so we went to Wings.  Here are the girls being "wings mannequins" in their obx wear.

 these two cousins looks like sisters.  Kenz and Lu getting ready to go to the beach this morning.

 practicing their dance moves in the water

R, Greg and E went to the Wright Brothers First Flight memorial.  They reported having a good time.  Nana and Abba went on a walk, the rest of us hit the beach. 

morning

 Last night the girls asked if I would wake up early and walk on the beach with them.  I said yes, and told them to get me as soon as they get up knowing that if I try and get up "early" that might not mean the same thing to them :)  We got out the door at the crack of almost 8am.

The first day we were here Dani said, isn't it weird how on the west coast the sun sets on the ocean and here it rises.  I had never thought of it but yes, very weird.  I remember many many ocean sunsets that were spectacular.  The idea of seeing a sunrise for comparison appealed to me...but we didn't make it early enough for the full effect.  Maybe tomorrow I will set the pace.

 R and Tate were up and also came with us.  We strolled along looking at the sights, so different from the heat of the day when the beaches are crowded with umbrellas, tiny children digging in the sand and all kinds of people enjoying the water.  We watched clams burrow in the sand after the waves tossed them onto the shore, over and over again.  We picked up the strange jellies that litter the beach here, no tentacles of stingers, they are just gelatinous disks that you can wring the water out of if you try (and Tate did)

It was quite a nice walk. 

Living History Center, Manteo NC

 It was hot and humid but we thought it would be a wonderful idea to check out some of the sights.  First we went to the site of the first colony.  We went to a ranger talk and the kids earned Jr Ranger badges.  It was interesting.

Then we went down the road and visited the Elizabeth II and other living history sites. 

 It was lovely and the kids enjoyed it and I learned a lot about the early colonists, I wonder what happened to them?  They just disappeared and no one knows what happened.

Then we came home, ate lunch and headed to the beach.  After a while the lifeguard came by and shooed us all off the beach because of a big storm. Hopefully it will pass quickly, in the meantime we will pass the time.